[Federal Register: March 16, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 49)]
[Notices]
[Page 11129-11130]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr16mr09-85]
[[Page 11129]]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R5-R-2009-N0001; BAC 4311-K9; S3]
Umbagog (Formerly ``Lake Umbagog'') National Wildlife Refuge,
Coos County, NH and Oxford County, ME
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of decision and availability of record of decision.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the
decision and availability of the record of decision (ROD) for the final
comprehensive conservation plan (CCP) and environmental impact
statement (EIS) for the Umbagog (formerly ``Lake Umbagog'') National
Wildlife Refuge (NWR). The refuge is located in Coos County, New
Hampshire, and Oxford County, Maine. We completed a thorough analysis
of the environmental, social, and economic considerations and presented
it in our final CCP/EIS, which we released to the public through a
Federal Register notice on December 3, 2008. The ROD documents our
decision to adopt and implement the final CCP/EIS Alternative B,
Management for Particular Habitats and Focal Species as the CCP for
Umbagog NWR. Alternative B was identified as the Service-preferred
alternative in the final CCP/EIS. The Regional Director, U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, Northeast Region, signed the ROD on January 9, 2009.
ADDRESSES: You may view or obtain copies of the ROD and final CCP/EIS
by any of the following methods:
Agency Web site: Download a copy of the documents at http://
www.fws.gov/northeast/planning/Lake%20Umbagog/ccphome.html.
Electronic mail: northeastplanning@fws.gov. Include ``Umbagog NWR
ROD'' in the subject line of the message.
Mail: Paul Casey, Refuge Manager, Umbagog NWR, P.O. Box 240, Route
16 North, Errol, NH 03579.
In-Person Viewing or Pickup: Phone to make an appointment at refuge
headquarters during regular business hours; 603-482-3415 (phone).
Local Libraries: The final documents are available for review at
the libraries listed under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Casey, Refuge Manager, Umbagog
NWR, P.O. Box 240, Route 16 North, Errol, New Hampshire 03579; (603)
482-3415 (phone); paul_casey@fws.gov (e-mail).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Introduction
With this notice, we finalize the CCP process for Umbagog NWR
(formerly ``Lake Umbagog'' NWR). The CCP will guide us in managing and
administering the refuge for the next 15 years. We started this process
in a Federal Register notice (67 FR 46682; July 16, 2002). We released
the draft CCP/EIS to the public, announcing and requesting comments in
a notice of availability in the Federal Register (72 FR 37041; July 6,
2007). We extended the public comment period through another Federal
Register notice (72 FR 45044; August 10, 2007). The full public review
period lasted 77 days. We announced the availability of the final CCP/
EIS in the Federal Register (73 FR 73661; December 3, 2008). Public
review of that document lasted 33 days.
Umbagog NWR is a 21,650-acre refuge, which lies in Coos County, New
Hampshire, and Oxford County, Maine. It contains widely diverse upland
and wetland habitat types surrounding the 8,500-acre Umbagog Lake. The
refuge was established to provide long-term protection to unique
wetlands, threatened and endangered species, and migratory birds of
conservation concern, and to sustain regionally significant
concentrations of wildlife. Since establishing the refuge in 1992, we
have focused our management emphasis on conserving lands within the
approved boundary; monitoring the occupancy and productivity of common
loon, bald eagle, and osprey nesting sites and protecting them from
human disturbance; conducting baseline biological inventories; and
providing wildlife-dependent recreational opportunities.
In accordance with National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) (40 CFR
1506.6(b)) requirements, this notice announces our decision and the
availability of the ROD for the final CCP/EIS for Umbagog NWR. We
evaluated three alternatives and completed a thorough analysis of the
environmental, social, and economic considerations in the final CCP/
EIS. The ROD documents our selection of Alternative B, Management for
Particular Habitats and Focal Species, which we modified in the final
document in response to public comments we received on the draft
document. The ROD details those modifications made in the final
document. Alternative B, as we describe in the ROD and final CCP/EIS,
now serves as the foundation for the approved CCP.
Background
The National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 (16
U.S.C. 668dd-668ee) (Improvement Act), which amended the National
Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966, requires us to
develop a CCP for each national wildlife refuge. The purpose for
developing a CCP is to provide refuge managers with a 15-year plan for
achieving refuge purposes and contributing toward the mission of the
National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS), consistent with sound
principles of fish and wildlife management, conservation, legal
mandates, and our policies. In addition to outlining broad management
direction on conserving wildlife and their habitats, CCPs identify
wildlife-dependent recreational opportunities available to the public,
including opportunities for hunting, fishing, wildlife observation and
photography, and environmental education and interpretation. We will
review and update the CCP at least every 15 years in accordance with
the Improvement Act.
Basis for Selected Alternative
Both our draft and final CCP/EIS identified 18 major issues
generated by the public, other state or federal agencies, and the
planning team. To address those issues, we developed and evaluated
three alternatives in detail: Alternative A, Current Management;
Alternative B, Management for Particular Habitats and Focal Species
(Service-preferred alternative); and, Alternative C, Management to
Create Natural Landscape Composition, Patterns, and Processes.
Alternative B was identified as the Service-preferred alternative in
both the draft and final CCP/EIS. Although the alternatives differ in
many ways, they also share some similarities. Both their common
elements and their distinctions were most recently outlined in the
final CCP/EIS Summary document available at http://www.fws.gov/
northeast/planning/Lake%20Umbagog/ccphome.htm.
Our decision is to adopt Alternative B, as described in the ROD and
final CCP/EIS. The ROD details the basis of our decision, which we made
after considering the following: The impacts identified in Chapter 4 of
the draft and final CCP/EIS; the results of public and other agency
comments; how well the alternative addresses the relevant issues,
concerns, and opportunities identified during the planning process; and
other relevant factors, including fulfilling the purposes for which the
refuge was established, contributing to the mission
[[Page 11130]]
and goals of the NWRS, and statutory and regulatory guidance. We have
determined that Alternative B also includes the suite of activities
that best achieves the stated purpose and need for action and the seven
goals presented in the final CCP/EIS Chapter 1. Compared to the other
two alternatives, Alternative B meets those needs and goals through the
most balanced and integrated approach, considering both the biological
and human environment. It will also provide the means to better respond
to changing ecological and socioeconomic conditions within the
surrounding environment using an adaptive management approach.
In summary, Alternative B was selected for implementation because
it provides the greatest number of opportunities for the refuge to make
a significant contribution to the conservation of fish, wildlife, and
habitat needs in the region, as well as make a positive contribution to
the local and regional communities.
Public Availability of Documents
In addition to the methods in ADDRESSES, you can view or obtain
documents at the following locations:
Our Web site: http://www.fws.gov/northeast/planning/Lake%20Umbagog/
ccphome.html.
At the following libraries:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Library Address Phone No.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Errol Public Library..................... Route 26, Errol, NH 03579........ 603-482-7720
Berlin Public Library.................... 270 Main Street, Berlin, NH 03570 603-752-5210
White Mountains Community College........ 2020 Riverside Drive Berlin, NH 603-752-1113
03570.
Gorham Public Library.................... 35 Railroad Street, Gorham, NH 603-466-2525
03581.
Bethel Public Library.................... 5 Broad Street, Bethel, ME 04217. 207-824-2520
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dated: January 9, 2009.
Marvin E. Moriarty,
Regional Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Hadley, MA 01035.
[FR Doc. E9-5592 Filed 3-13-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P